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SEEKING REDRESS: Bheki Cele was dismissed as national police commissioner in June. Photo: Simon Mathebula

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• Cele takes Zuma to court

Cele's spokesman, Vuyo Mkhize, yesterday told Sowetan the presidency had failed to submit papers as stipulated on three occasions - July 22, July and August 13.

Mkhize acknowledged that while the presidency had "partially" complied with Cele's demand that records of all meetings of the inquiry be supplied to him, these were "insignificant".

"They complied partially with our request to file elements of the records but these were insignificant because they were not the portion (of the records) we had specifically requested," Mkhize said.

"It was a limited compliance."

Mkhize said Cele wanted "records of every meeting held since the (inquiry) was set up". These, Mkhize said, would comprise "all correspondence the inquiry had with everyone, including the people whose input did not form part of the inquiry".

According to Mkhize they only received copies of correspondence "we exchanged with the presidency from the time the president wrote to the general (Cele) to inform him of the decision to fire him".

"It (the records submitted by President Jacob Zuma) was not too helpful in the greater scheme of things," he said.

Cele was dismissed as national police commissioner in June, following a recommendation, to that effect, from a board of inquiry that was chaired by retired judge Jake Moloi.

Moloi, in substantiating his conclusion, said Cele was unfit to hold public office because of his involvement in the procurement of two lease deals for the police headquarters, worth R1.6-billion.

These deals, the inquiry found, were completed without proper procedures having been followed.

In papers before the Pretoria High Court, Cele said Zuma had been "irrational" in taking the ultimate decision to fire him.

He added that the president had ignored the crime-fighting successes the police had enjoyed, under Cele's command.

Zuma's spokesman Mac Maharaj had not responded to questions at the time going to press.

'President had acted irrationally in taking decision to fire the general'

Comments

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Mon May 20 07:13:03 SAST 2013 ::

Sep 5, 2012

_Sinudeity

We never hear the end of these cases. Its always appeal within appeal. Cwele's wife? She in jail yet?
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Sep 5, 2012

Papage

Surely you don't want your job back, what is it? Golden hand shake? how much R2om maybe? Wait until Mangaung is over. maybe someone will do it for you.
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Sep 5, 2012

Flemza

Just hire back Bheki Cele , this man was the best for the job since the don of our democracy , after the Marikana collusion were unruelly job seekers were killed by police due to lack of police leadership since that mother took over , I think its thy time Zuma must swallow his prode and just get Cele back to head the police force
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Sep 5, 2012

Pointman

Looks like the presidency wants to let Cele off the hook using constructive negligence. The president took a long time to fire him so we know where his sympathies lie.
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Sep 5, 2012

_Sinudeity

On a related note, some fo the overpriced buildings that the government are leasing, belongs to NUM/COSATU.
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Sep 5, 2012

TjoVtjo

Gee I wonder why the Presidency would want to fcuk up this one. Maybe cause someone has debts to pay back????
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Sep 5, 2012

nofavours

they are up to their tricks again, aish!!!
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Sep 5, 2012

Goldstone

@Flemza It seems like there is no clarity whether General was involved or not, But I second you Cele Had done great on his term of office, Can even the Parliament intervene for the safety of our Nation Cele is capable Of leading the Police Forces
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Sep 5, 2012

MommaC

No surprises there. The Presidency has been late for everything. They exist about twenty years behind real time.
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Sep 5, 2012

suthuDOTcom

that is just a way to bring the man back to work, especially after Marikana tragedy
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